BRIDGEPORT -- The UConn women's basketball team has been tested virtually every step of the way this season. Beginning with an injury to All-American Bria Hartley during the preseason, there has seemingly been an unending wave of adversity.

Senior Kelly Faris said that this has easily been the most challenging season of her career. Huskies' coach Geno Auriemma said that these past five months have seemed like five years to him.

There has been a multitude of injuries. There has been inconsistency. Yet, through it all, top-seeded UConn finds itself one win away from the reaching the Final Four.

The Huskies will meet second-seeded Kentucky in the NCAA Bridgeport regional final tonight at Webster Bank Arena (7:30; ESPN).

"I don't think anything can match what we've had to go through this year," Auriemma said. "Every week it's been something. And it's taken a toll on our players. It's taken a toll on the coaching staff. Certainly (team athletic trainer) Rosemary (Ragle) and (team doctor Tom) Trojian. And in spite of all that we're right where we were last year and we have an opportunity to do something that we set as our goal five months ago -- to go to the Final Four."

The Huskies (32-4) and Wildcats (30-5) are meeting in the regional final for the second straight season. UConn earned an 80-65 win a year ago in Kingston, R.I.

The Huskies have advanced to the Elite Eight for the eighth straight season and the 19th overall (13-5). They are looking to become the first team in the history of the sport to reach the Final Four in six straight seasons.

"It's been really difficult for us to have all these injuries," UConn sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis said. "I think Coach said he's counted 10 days where we've had all 11 players that are healthy and practicing. So it's been tough, but we've been able to overcome it and use it as a strength more than a weakness."

Kentucky is competing in the Elite Eight for the third time in the last four years (0-2). The Wildcats, who pride themselves on playing "40 Minutes of Dread" defense, have forced a nation's-best 835 turnovers this season (23.9).

The Huskies have won nine straight games against SEC opponents dating back to a 73-50 loss to LSU in the 2007 Fresno regional final. They are the favorite tonight too.

"I think a lot of people don't expect us to beat UConn," Kentucky sophomore Jennifer O'Neill said. "I was watching ESPN and they weren't really talking about us or anything like that. But that's fine. We don't mind playing under the radar because we know what we're capable of. We know that if we come out and play our best that it's hard for people to stay with us and stop us."

UConn has had eight players miss time this season due to injury or illness. There are players who continue to deal with certain ailments.

Brianna Banks was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee Feb. 2. Kiah Stokes missed six games due to a stress reaction in her lower right leg. Morgan Tuck missed four games due to a bone bruise in her right knee. Breanna Stewart missed a total of three games due to a sprained left ankle and soreness in her left calf. Hartley missed six weeks of action and the first two games of the regular season due to a sprained left ankle. Caroline Doty (knee), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (concussion) and Stefanie Dolson (illness) have each missed one game.

Auriemma said that Stokes had an MRI on her back last week. Dolson is currently plagued by a stress fracture in her right ankle and a left foot problem. Faris has been nursing a sore left foot.

Faris and Moriah Jefferson are the only members of the Huskies that have played in all 36 games this season. Faris is the lone player to start in every game.

"I think it just shows how tough we are and how tough our coaches have been with kind of pushing us through things like that," Dolson said. "I think a lot of teams can feel sorry for themselves or let injuries kind of define their season. But I think we've done a great job of having what hand is dealt to us and with the injuries and just kind of overcoming all of them."

Mosqueda-Lewis said that the adversity has brought the Huskies closer, realizing that they need every player to contribute if they are to achieve their goals this season.

With a victory over Kentucky tonight, UConn will achieve one of its goals.

"Those are the kind of situations that build character," Hartley said. "And then in the end, when you look at everything that you go through and if you reach your goal at the end of the season, we'll just sit back and be proud of what we've accomplished."